Government drive to boost teenagers' work prospects

New measures will be announced today by Ed Balls, the children, schools and families secretary, to tackle the problem of teenagers who play truant and later refuse to take jobs or join a training programme.

With Gordon Brown already committed to introduce new laws in Tuesday's Queen's Speech requiring all young people to stay in education or training until 17 by 2013, and 18 by 2015, Mr Balls will today promise a series of interim measures to encourage young people to stay on at school or join training programmes before the law comes into effect.

In a speech to the Fabian Society he will say: "We cannot wait until 2013 to change the expectations and aspirations of young people. We need to start now by engendering a culture change in young people, their parents and the education and employment system through creating the balance of rights and responsibilities that underpin a higher compulsory leaving age.

"We need to intensify support so that long-term NEETs [not in education, employment or training] are offered a way back into work or education. I look forward to a time when no young person will be long-term NEET."

Among the new specific measures he will announce are:

· extending the September guarantee so that all 17-year-olds have the offer of a place to continue or re-engage with learning;

· extending grants (educational maintenance awards) to everybody taking an "entry to employment" course, to encourage more young people to prepare for apprenticeships;

· trialling the extension of education maintenance awards to all courses provided by local authorities, including working with charities - currently these are restricted to courses approved by the Learning and Skills Council;

· allowing more young people to start courses in January, rather than wait a further academic year (the following September) before being able to start a new course;

· extending early entry into the New Deal scheme for people when they reach their 18th birthday rather than asking them to wait six more months until they become eligible for job training.

Mr Balls said: "We know that persistent truants are seven times more likely to become NEETs at the age of 16. Schools have a key role in preventing young people becoming NEET through early identification of and intervention with young people at risk and providing a diverse and engaging curriculum."

According to the ministry, the number of NEETS peaked in the mid-1980s when youth unemployment was at its highest, but despite a reduction numbers have remained stubbornly high. So although 1.5 million 16- to 18-year-olds are now in education or training - the highest rate ever - more needs to be done.

Mr Balls added: "The regional pattern for NEET shows that the highest levels are in areas which have lost traditional industries, such as coal mining or shipbuilding - ie, the rate in the north-east is around double the rate in the south-east. And 16-year-old boys are twice as likely to be NEET as 16-year-old girls."

The changes were welcomed by those in the college and further education sector. Sue Dutton, the Association of Colleges' acting chief executive, said: "We applaud the government's commitment to apprenticeships, which are designed for learners and employers alike. This is now a great opportunity for more employers to engage with this scheme, in partnership with colleges, to ensure that there are enough places for what will be a high level of demand from young people."